Do The Right Thing

So, are you guys into immersing yourself into Black culture seen through the eyes of a Black director? Then Do The Right Thing is the right thing for you (sorry, for the lame wordplay). As I mentioned in my post about Israel and the almost openly racist regime they have there, there is not much to come about when it comes to watching the struggle my black brothers undergo worldwide. Indeed, Blacks don’t have the opportunity to set their history in a block-buster style Schindler’s List or something of that nature for the whole world to cry on. In fact there haven’t been a lot of Black movie directors out there that reached immense heights, till the arrival of the one and only Spike Lee. I guess, this was because while guys like Coppola and Spielberg were shooting their cult films that you all know of, Black were busy struggling to reach rights equality and combat segregation. That’s a fact that is undeniable and a sad one, too. That been said all is not as bad as it seems, recently we’ve got our Django and others like 12 Years A Slave and it looks like society is getting more and more ready for an open dialogue on the issue of racial discrimination and so on. Even the wrongs done during the era of Colonisation are surfacing  and that in my opinion is a good thing.

But I guess we’ve got to refocus on the movie, right? The first thing that strikes you when you’re watching this film is the stereotypical way in which people think about blacks. You know all the bling bling, baby mommas, old school niggaz with boom-boxes and so on. Indeed, Spike Lee succeeds in portraying almost all the facets of modern Black-American culture which people have the habit of putting forward when it comes to thinking about or perceiving blacks in modern society (well, at least this was the case and the way of thinking back in the 90s). In fact, I think that these stereotypes are the core of the movie and surprisingly enough Spike Lee sets them as a mundanity which we have to take as fact. You really start thinking that this is just the way blacks live all over the world and there is nothing that can or that will ever be done to resolve this issue. The idea of a diversified America where everyone will be equal and there will be no space for discrimination and social bondage fades away without leaving a trace and space for improvement. The term ghetto has never been represented in a better way I think. All Black people seem to be locked in an endless spiral with no chance of escape. What a pity.

Then there is the cast, which is surely one of the best casting jobs I’ve ever had the chance to observe. It’s quite clear that Mr. Lee approached this movie with much care a detail. Although at first sight it might seem that the acting job is a bit naive or amateur; but it actually gives the movie and charm that you hardly ever see in movies these days. In fact, the more we go into film as a media for expressing stories, the more I get the feeling that this industry is becoming a dying thing which focuses on earning money and leaves out talent entirely. If you’re interested in more of my thoughts on this topic, I guess you guys ought to read my Keanu Reeves post (it’s quite insightful). It really looks as if Hollywood has forgotten to focus on the fundamentals when it comes to making movies. We don’t really need all this millions and millions of dollars to make a good movie, right? I mean, if 6 million was enough for Do the Right Thing why the hell should this tendency change at all, right? It should be all about shooting stories that are worth watching, nothing more. We don’t really need to see a dragon shooting fire or a spacecraft flying through space at some phenomenal pace or something. It’s all about giving the audience the chance to escape their dull reality and find something that is inspiring enough. And there is no better example of this than Do The Right Thing. After watching this film I remembered my roots, Africa, black culture, black suffering and so on. It made me review my stance on inequalities and inspired me to do some research on the topic. Indeed, like many I always thought that the US was a great example of what a cosmopolitan society may look like if we lived in an ideal society, but Do The Right Thing proved me wrong; and to tell the truth I’m some how grateful for that. There is nothing worse than living in ignorance and knowledge is bliss.

Last, but not least regarding this movie is all the controversy this movie engendered. Without giving out any spoilers, I have to say that there is a moment in the movie when there is a riot and fight between the black and white population of Bed Stuy and the controversy was connected with the fact that showing such appalling images in movies might insight the black population of America to violence. If you ask me, this is a crazy thought that just shows to what point stereotypes are still omnipresent in our society. I mean, did Jews start rioting after watching The Schindler’s List? Do Russians start riots after watching another historical movie about World War II, in which over 10 million Russians died? I guess the answer is “no”, right? So, why the hell do people assume that Blacks will immediately go for their guns and start shooting any white person they meet? I for one think that this movie is the best possible example of how movies can actually combat hate. Be it racial hate or social hate, all this social issues are subtly approached in Do The Right Thing. In short, a “must watch” movie that everyone should watch irrespective of race or social status.

Peace, Love & Untiy…